Historic Plymouth mansion gets restoration
“I originally bought it (the mansion) to host a reunion,” Mary Ann Kerley said, describing the reason why she purchased the large mansion at 305 East Main Street in Plymouth.
What Kerley discovered when she claimed the mansion in early 2021 was not what she expected. “It was a mess,” she said.
The reunion did take place, with participants sleeping on air mattresses in the home. But the woes for Kerley were only beginning.
“I decided to pray about it as to what I should do,” she said. Within hours, she received a phone call from a contractor who was working in Mt. Sterling at the time. He offered to send a crew up to help get started on the process.
“You mean that I’m going to restore this mansion?” Kerley said, describing the incredulous emotions which overwhelmed her.
“It took us about six weeks just to clear out the trash in here,” she continued. From there, she found that one thing simply led to another.
A leaking roof was a major problem, causing major damage to the upstairs of the mansion. Some of that damage resonated down to the main first floor as well.
“I originally just thought that I would sell it after I had my reunion,” Kerley said. But fate intervened in her plans.
“I am embarrassed to even admit how much I’ve spent on this,” Kerley said. In fact, she said that she has lost track of the total.
The renovations have included the complete restoration and modernization of the kitchen, restoring lighting fixtures, and so much more.
The payoff has been sizable for the property originally owned by the First Baptist Church of Plymouth. Records show that the property was first purchased by Thomas Monk in 1907.
Members of the Monk family lived in the mansion until 1948. Robert and Dorcas Craven purchased the mansion on July 27, 1974. They used the mansion to host a boarding house for a number of years.
After all of the investment and work which Kerly has invested into the mansion, she decided to put it up for sale. She readily admitted that she would be unlikely to get back what she put into the mansion, let alone show a profit from her efforts.
Work continues on the mansion, especially on the second floor. One stairway leading upstairs is even lighted by an apparent stained glass window. Without exaggeration, the mansion reflects an elegance which was more common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in home design and construction.
The sights within the home, along with relaxation areas on the front porch facing East Main Street and the patio outdoors have a motif that encourages a person to relax and sit for a while.
Kerley does welcome visitors who wish to see the mansion and will gladly show visitors around. As a courtesy, though, she would appreciate prior contact to arrange a tour.
This article originally appeared on The McDonough County Voice: mansion in Plymouth, Illinois is restored
